Professional Documents
Culture Documents
3d 727
98 CJ C.A.R. 3693
NOTICE: Although citation of unpublished opinions remains unfavored,
unpublished opinions may now be cited if the opinion has persuasive value on a
material issue, and a copy is attached to the citing document or, if cited in oral
argument, copies are furnished to the Court and all parties. See General Order of
November 29, 1993, suspending 10th Cir. Rule 36.3 until December 31, 1995, or
further order.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination
of this appeal. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is
therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
Hendricks asserts that his Oklahoma convictions for kidnaping and first degree
rape must be vacated because: (1) evidence of another crime was improperly
admitted at his trial; (2) a knife was improperly admitted at trial; (3) a copy of
his certificate of discharge from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for a
prior conviction was improperly admitted at trial; and (4) the prosecutor
impermissibly vouched for the veracity of a prosecution witness. A magistrate
judge issued a Report and Recommendation, which recommended that
Hendricks' petition be denied. The magistrate thoroughly analyzed Hendricks'
petition and concluded that all of the evidence identified by Hendricks was
properly admitted and that even if it was not properly admitted, the evidence of
guilt was so overwhelming that the admission did not render his trial
fundamentally unfair. As to Hendricks' claim of prosecutorial misconduct, the
magistrate noted that Hendricks had taken the prosecutor's remarks out of
context and that when read in context, the prosecutor's remarks could not be
read as improper vouching. After de novo review, the district court adopted the
Report and Recommendation and denied the petition.
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of
law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court generally
disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and
judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3